Telescoping arrow

ABSTRACT

A telescoping arrow assembly comprised of a longitudinal body portion, which is provided with an axial cavity into which extends an arrow tip portion normally retained in a retracted position in the cavity by a resiliently biased manually releasable detent; an energy storing spring is provided at the bottom of the axial cavity and is held in a compressed state when the detent engages a shoulder on the rear end of the arrow tip portion in its retracted position. Upon release of the detent the spring will propel the arrow tip portion outwardly of the cavity into an extended ready position at the front of the body portion is a second detent which engages the shoulder on the rear end of the arrow tip portion to limit forward movement of the tip. A pair of resilient catch fingers are cantilevered outwardly from the front end of the body portion. They engage rearwardly facing notches along the rear part of the tip portion to keep the tip from retracting into the body portion. A resilient washer is located towards the rear end of the body portion cavity and engages a tapered groove on the tip portion to position the tip portion within the cavity.

Palma Sept. 18, 1973 TELESCOPING ARROW [76] Inventor: James R. Palma, 1502 Curry Rd.,

Schenectady, NY. 12306 [22] Filed: Mar. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 236,824

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 39,298, May 21, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] U.S.C|. 273/1065 R, 30/162 [51] Int. Cl. F4lb 5/02 [58] Field of Search 273/1065, 73, 68, 273/80; 30/162 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 33 ,612 3/1886 Pusey 30/162 825,976 7/1906 Neiglick 30/162 1,260,827 3/1918 Stefanov 30/162 x 1,532,960 4/1925 Tomanek... 30/162 x 1,604,713 10/1926 Norwnd 273/1065 B 1 1,541,674 6/1925 Wever 273/80 1) 1,613,360 1/1927 Rigby 273/80 1) ux 1,967,355 7/1934 Edwards 273/80 1) 2,717,780 9/1955 Mantz 273/80 D 2,757,002 7/1956 Ryden.... 273/80 D ux 128,557 7/l872 Meyer 273/68 x 445,440 l/189l Davis et a]. 273/68 x 3,036,396 5/1962 Swails 273/1065 B 1,314,672 9/1919 Kozlowski 30/162 x r 542,315 7/1895 Sanguinette... 273/1065 R ux 1,290,807 1/1919 Tomanek 30/162 x FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 340,976 9/1920 Germany 30/l62 9/l893 Great Britain 30/162 6/1954 Great Britain 273/73 J Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro Attorney-Settle & Oltman [5 7] ABSTRACT A telescoping arrow assembly comprised of a longitudinal body portion, which is provided with an axial cavity into which extends an arrow tip portion normally retained in a retracted position in the cavity by a resiliently biased manually releasable detent; an energy storing spring is provided at the bottom of the axial cavity and is held in a compressed state when the detent engages a shoulder on the rear end of the arrow tip portion in its retracted position. Upon release of the detent the spring will propel the arrow tip portion outwardly of the cavity into an extended ready position at the front of the body portion is a second detent which engages the shoulder on the rear end of the arrow tip portion to limit forward movement of the tip. A pair of resilient catch fingers are cantilevered outwardly from the front end of the body portion. They engage rearwardly facing notches along the rear part of the tip portion to keep the tip from retracting into the body portion. A resilient washer is located towards the rear end of the body portion cavity and engages a tapered groove on the tip portion to position the tip portion within the cavity.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TELESCOPING ARROW This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 39,298 filed May 21, l970 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an arrow construction for use with a bow provided with a string adapted to tension the bow to propel the arrow towards its target.

Arrows used in archery are usually carried by the archer in a quiver supported on the body of the archer. Although arrows are constructed of various lengths, depending on the type of archery, arrows used in professional target shooting and hunting are sometimes of extreme length and, consequently, the quiver in which the arrows are carried by the archer will have to be likewise of considerable length to support the arrows. This causes a rather bulky and akward load to be carried by the archer and the arrows, as well as the quiver, can become caught in brushes, tree branches or any other obstructions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a telescoping arrow in conjunction with a bow having a string for propelling the arrow towards its target.

The arrow of the present invention is constructed of at least two portions which are telescopically assembled to reduce the overall length of the arrow when the arrow is not in use. The body or main portion of the arrow is comprised of a hollow tubular construction which is closed at the end engagable by the bow string and open at the opposite end to permit the insertion of the arrow tip into the tubular body portion. The arrow tip portion comprises a shaft section which is telescopically received within the tubular body portion and both, the tubular body portion of the arrow and the arrow tip portion, are substantially of equal length so that, when the arrow tip portion is telescopically inserted within the tubular body portion, the overall length of the arrow will be approximately cut in half, enabling the provision of much shorter quivers for carrying of the arrows by the archer.

Normally, the shaft section of the arrow tip portion is retained within the tubular body portion of the arrow by means of releasable detents or catch means and is adapted to be extended outwardly of the tubular main portion intoa shooting position either manually, or by an energy storing means disposed at the inner end of the tubular body portion of the arrow.

The energy storing means, which can be in the form of a spring, an explosive or a compressible gas, is nor mally held inactive by releasable means, which can be actuated from the outside of the arrow and, preferrably, at the bottom end thereof. This can be done either manually or by contact with the string of the bow to aution of the arrow. If a spring is being used as the energy storing device, the spring would be automatically compressed into storing condition by moving the shaft of the arrow tip portion inwardly of the tubular body portion. The spring, thereafter, will be held in the energy storing position by releasable catch means at the inner end of the tubular body portion. Of course, if a spent charge is being used as energy storing means, such as an explosive or a compressed gas, these will have to be replenished after each use of the telescoping arrow.

The advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings illustrating several preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is exemplarily illustrated by means of a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present novel arrow construction illustrated partly in cross-section showing the arrow tip portion being extended out of the arrow body portion;

FIG. 2 is a fractional cross-section through the bottom end of the arrow body portion showing the arrow tip portion being held in contacted position within said body portion;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-section of the arrow tip portion as seen in the direction of line 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a likewise enlarged transverse cross-section through the energy storing chamber at the end of the body portion as seen in the direction of line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continuing reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the present novel complete telescoping assembly generally indicated at 10 which comprises a tubular body portion 12 having guiding fins 14 attached to its rear end, as is common practice in. arrow constructions. The body portion 12 has a longitudinal cavity 16 open at its front end 18 and closed at the rear end as at 20. The longitudinal bore 16 extends at the front end into an enlarged diameter portion 22 and at the rear end in a likewise enlarged diameter portion 24, which defines an energy storing chamber.

The longitudinal cavity 16 of the body portion 12 is adapted to telescopically receive an arrow tip portion l3 comprised of a cylindrical shaft section 26 and a tomatically releasethe energy storing means when the bow is tensioned by pressure of the string against the end of the arrow.

Resilient snap-over or manually releasable detent means are provided adjacent the open end of the tubular body portion of the arrow to rigidly retain the arrow tip portion in the extended ready position for shooting. If the arrow is being salvaged after shooting the arrow tip portion can again be telescoped into the tubular body portion of the arrow by actuating the manual catch detents at the front end of the tubular body por- When the arrow assembly 10 is not in use, the tip portion 13 is adapted to be telescopically inserted within the body portion 12 by extension through the longitudinal cavity 16 towards the increased diameter end portion 24 of the longitudinal cavity 16.

In order to releasably retain the arrow tip portion 13 within the body portion 12, the increased diameter 'portion 24 of the cavity 16 is adapted to receive an energy storing and release mechanism 38 comprised of a transverse backup plate 40 which is adapted to provide a retaining surface for a compression spring 42, which is adapted to be compressed by the end flange 34 of the arrow tip portion 13 when the latter is completely inserted through the cavity 16 as shown in FIG. 2. The spring 42 is retained in the compressed position, by means of the end flange 34 of the arrow tip portion and by means of a pivoted catch bar 44 having a finger portion 46 adapted to engage within the groove 32 behind the end flange 34 of the arrow tip portion. The catch bar 44 is normally biased by means of a spring 48 into locking engagement with the groove 32. In the telescoped position of the arrow tip portion 13, as shown in FIG. 2, the radial tapered groove 36 is adapted to be resiliently engaged by the conical surface 50 of the central apperture of a resilient washer 52 positioned at the front end of the cavity portion 24 and which is yieldable to permit extension of the end flange 34 of the arrow tip portion therethrough.

The releasable catch bar 44 extends rearwardly through a slot 54 provided in the backup plate 40 for pivotal attachment around a pivot pin 56. The catch bar 44 provides a bell crank type lever which actuating end 45 is centrally positioned relative to the body portion 12 for attachment to a plunger 58 which extends outwardly of the rear end of the body portion 12. The plunger 58 is provided outwardly of the rear end 20 of the body portion 12 with a button 60 for actuation of the plunger 58. lnwardly, the plunger 58 is provided with a flange 62 for abutment against the inside of the end 20 of the body portion 12 to limit the outward movement of the plunger 58.

In order to permit movement of the arrow tip portion 13, longitudinally to the cavity 16 and outwardly of the body portion 12, the button 60 is depressed towards the end portion 20 to swing the catch arm 44 around the pivot pin 56 and against the force of the spring 48 to move the finger portion 46 out of the groove 32. When the finger portion 46 is moved out of the groove 32, the stored energy of the compression spring 42 will be released, causing the spring 42 to expand in the direction of the resilient washer 52 exerting a force on the end flange 34, to thereby propel the arrow tip portion 13 longitudinally in the outward direction through the cavity 16.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the arrow tip portion 13 is retained in the extended, ready position for shooting by a pair of oppositely disposed resilient detent means 64, which extend outwardly of the front end 18 of the body portion 12 and which are secured by means of fasteners 66 inwardly of the increased diameter portion 22 of the cavity 16. Each of the resilient detent means is provided at its end with an inclined finger portion 68 which is inclined at the same angular degrees as the notches 30 on the shaft section 26 of the arrow tip portion 13. Thus, when the arrow tip portion 13 is propelled outwardly of the longitudinal cavity 16, by means of the expanding force of the spring 42, the resilient finger portions 68 of the detent means 64, as the outward movement of the arrow tip portion 13 slows down, will engage within a pair of oppositely disposed notches 30 on the shaft section 26 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As clearly shown in FIG. 1, once the resilient catch fingers 68 have engaged within the pair of opposite notches 30 of the shaft 26, further movement outwardly by the arrow tip portion 13 is prevented. The

arrow tip portion 13 is retained rigidly against reverse movement inwardly of the cavity 16 by means of the rearwardly inclined notches 30 and similarly inclined catch fingers 68, preventing inward movement of the arrow tip portion 13. A force can then be applied to the arrow head 28, by shooting the arrow at a target, without collapsing the arrow tip portion.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, to providesufficient axial rigidity to the extended arrow assembly and to prevent the arrow tip portion 13 from being completely moved out of the longitudinal cavity 16 of the body portion 12, a pair of releasable catch means 70 are provided, one of which is shown in a 90 degree offset position in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 1. The catch means 70 comprises each a lever 72 pivoted inwardly of the cavity portion 22, each having a finger 74 at its inner end. The fingers 74 are adapted to snap into the groove 32 at the rear end of the shaft section 26 as the arrow tip portion 13 moves outwardly of the cavity 16 to engage behind the rear end flange 34 to thereby positively retain the arrow tip portion 13 against any further outward movement. The fingers 74 of each of the releasable catch means 70, are normally constantly urged towards each other by means of a spring 76 retained within the cavity portion 22 and operating against the lever portion 72, to thereby retain the tingers 74 within the groove 32 when the arrow tip portion 13 is in the outwardly extended position as shown in FIG. 1. By this arrangement, combined radial and axial rigidity is being provided for the extended arrow tip portion 13 so that-the arrow tip portion 13 will not be axially or in any other way displaced, but will be retained rigidly along the axial centerline of the body portion 12.

In order to release the catch means 70, each of the levers 72 extends into a grip portion 78 adapted for extension outwardly of the body portion 12 through an apperture 80 provided therein. Thus, by simply depressing the grip portions 78 of the opposite catch means 70 towards the body portion 12, the fingers 74 will be swung out of engagement with the groove 32 to release the shaft end.

After usage and retrieving of the arrow assembly 10, the arrow assembly 10 can be collapsed again by manipulation of the grip portions 78 of the catch means 70 and manual movement of the resilient catch fingers 68 out of the notches 30 to thereby release the shaft portion 26 for extension through the cavity 16 rearwardly thereof into the energy storing chamber 24, by manual force, for compression of the spring 42 and reengagement of the catch 46 within the groove 32 at the rear end of the shaft portion.

The arrow tip portion 13 and the body'portion 12 are substantially of equal length so that, when the arrow tip portion 13 is telescoped within the body portion 12, the effective shooting length of the arrow will be approximately reduced by one-half, permitting the usage of much shorter quivers than the conventional quivers presently used to thereby considerably facilitate the carrying of the arrows by the archer.

Obviously, the release button 60 due to itsaxially centered position at the rear end of the body portion 12, instead of being manually actuated, that is, pressed inwardly toward the end 20, can be automatically actuated by simply placing the telescoped arrow assembly on the string of the bow having the string abuting against the button 60. When the bow is being tensioned to ready the arrow for shooting, the string of the bow will depress the button 60 and thereby release the catch, permitting the stored energy of the spring 42 to propel the arrow tip portion 13 outwardly as previously described.

As mentioned in the preamble of the specification, the energy storing chamber 24, at the rear end of the body portion 12, instead of being provided with a mechanical energy storing means, such as the spring 42, can be constructed to comprise a gas pressure chamber and the release and catch assembly 38 can be constructed to actuate a valve upon depression of the button 60 to release fluid pressure adapted to propel the arrow t ip .portion l3 outwardly.

Similarly, the energy storing chamber 24 can retain a powder charge or other explosive means adapted to be ignited by a firing pin or the like actuated by the release and catch means 38 when the button 60 is depressed to shoot the arrow tip portion 13 outwardly, similar to a projectile.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with only one preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that various modifications and structural changes, requiring no further inventive capacity by a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, may be made herein all of which are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A telescoping arrow comprising: a tubular body having a longitudinal cavity therein; a shaft displaceable in said cavity lengthwise of the body between a retracted position in which most of the length of the shaft is contained within said cavity in the body and an extended position in which most of the length of the shaft projects forward beyond the body, said shaft having a forwardly-facing transverse shoulder adjacent its rear end and hav ing one or more rearwardly-facing transverse shoulders located forward from said forwardlyfacing shoulder; I

first manually releasable catch means on the body at its back end engaging said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft to hold the latter retracted;

energy storage propulsion means in the body for propelling the'shaft forward to its extended position when said first catch means is released manually;

second manually releasable, spring-biased, catch means on the body which automatically engages said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft when it moves forward from said retracted position to its extended position, so as to prevent its complete removal from said body;

and detent means on the body which is resiliently biased to engage at least one of said rearwardlyfacing shoulders on the shaft when the latter moves forward to its extended position so as to hold the shaft against retraction back into the body, said detent means and said second catch means together positioning the shaft radially with respect to said body and holding the shaft substantially rigidly in its extended position against either forward or rearward movement along said body, and said detent means being manually releasable to permit the shaft to be returned to its retracted position.

2. An arrow according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is loosely received in said cavity in the body andhas a tapered peripheral groove thereon located forward from said forwardly-facing shoulder, and further comprising an annular resilient washer seated in said cavity in said body and having a tapered annular inner edge which is received in said groove to position the shaft radially of said cavity when in its retracted position.

3. An arrow according to claim 1, wherein said first catch means includes an operating button located behind the back end of said body and depressable either manually or by a bow string to actuate said first catch means to disengage from said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft.

4. An arrow according to claim 3, wherein said first catch means is spring-biased to a position for engagement automatically with said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft when the latter is retracted from its extended position.

5. An arrow according to claim 4, wherein said shaft is loosely received in said cavity in the body and has a tapered peripheral groove thereon between said forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing shoulders, and further comprising an annular resilient washer seated in said cavity in said body and having a tapered annular inner edge which is received in said groove to position the shaft radially of said cavity when in its retracted position.

6. An arrow according to claim 1, wherein said shaft has forwardly and inwardly inclined notches immediately behind said rearwardly-facing shoulders;

and said detent means comprises resilient members which are attached to said body in cantilever fashion and extend forward therefrom and terminate at their front ends in forwardly and inwardly inclined fingers which are received snugly in said notches in the shaft.

7. An arrow according to claim 6, wherein said first catch means is spring-biased to a position for engagement automatically with said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft when the latter is retracted from its extended position, and said first catch means includes an operating button located behind the back end of said body and depressable either manually or by a bow string to actuate said first catch means to disengage from said forwardly-facingshoulder on the shaft.

8. An arrow according to claim 7, wherein said shaft has a tapered groove peripheral thereon between said forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing shoulders, and

further comprising an annular resilient washer seated in said cavity on the body having a tapered annular inner edge which is received in said groove to position the shaft radially of said cavity when in its retracted position.

9. A telescoping arrow comprising:

a tubular body having a longitudinal cavity therein which is open at its forward end;

a shaft loosely received lengthwise in said cavity and movable therealong between a retracted position in which most of the length of the shaft is contained within said cavity in the body and an extended position in which most of the length of the shaft projects forward beyond the body, said shaft having a tapered peripheral groove thereon near its back end;

means for propelling said shaft forward along the body from its retracted position to its extended position;

manually releasable catch means for retaining the shaft in its retracted position;

and a resilient member seated in said cavity in said body and having a tapered inner edge portion received in said tapered groove on the shaft to position the shaft radially of said cavity when in its retracted position.

10. A telescoping arrow comprising:

a tubular body having a longitudinal cavity therein which is open at its forward end;

a shaft loosely received lengthwise in said cavity and displaceable therealong between a retracted position in which most of the length of the shaft is contained within said cavity in the body and an extended position in which most of the length of the shaft projects forward beyond the body, said shaft having a forwardly-facing shoulder thereon near its back end and having forwardly and inwardly inclined notches located forward from 'said shoulder;

means for propelling said shaft forward along the body from its retracted position to its extended position;

means for releasably retaining the shaft in its retracted position;

a pair of circumferentially-spaced catch members on said body toward its forward end which are springbiased inward to engage said shaft at said shoulder to limit its forward movement and to restrain the shaft against displacement radially of said body when in its extended position;

and a pair of circumferentially-spaced resilient detent members which are attached to said body in cantilever fasion and extend forward therefrom and terminate at their front ends in forwardly and inwardly inclined fingers which are received snugly in said notches in the shaft in the latters extended position to hold the shaft against retraction axially. 

1. A telescoping arrow comprising: a tubular body having a longitudinal cavity therein; a shaft displaceable in said cavity lengthwise of the body between a retracted position in which most of the length of the shaft is contained within said cavity in the body and an extended position in which most of the length of the shaft projects forward beyond the body, said shaft having a forwardly-facing transverse shoulder adjacent its rear end and having one or more rearwardly-facing transverse shoulders located forward from said forwardly-facing shoulder; first manually releasable catch means on the body at its back end engaging said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft to hold the latter retracted; energy storage propulsion means in the body for propelling the shaft forward to its extended position when said first catch means is released manually; second manually releasable, spring-biased, catch means on the body which automatically engages said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft when it moves forward from said retracted position to its extended position, so as to prevent its complete removal from said body; and detent means on the body which is resiliently biased to engage at least one of said rearwardly-facing shoulders on the shaft when the latter moves forward to its extended position so as to hold the shaft against retraction back into the body, said detent means and said second catch means together positioning the shaft radially with respect to said body and holding the shaft substantially rigidly in its extended position against either forward or rearward movement along said body, and said detent means being manually releasable to permit the shaft to be returned to its retracted position.
 2. An arrow according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is loosely received in said cavity in the body and has a tapered peripheral groove thereon located forward from said forwardly-facing shoulder, and further comprising an annular resilient washer seated in said cavity in said body and having a tapered annular inner edge which is received in said groove to position the shaft radially of said cavity when in its retracted position.
 3. An arrow according to claim 1, wherein said first catch means includes an operating button located behind the back end of said body and depressable either manually or by a bow string to actuate said first catch means to disengage from said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft.
 4. An arrow according to claim 3, wherein said first catch means is spring-biased to a position for engagement automatically with said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft when the latter is retracted from its extended position.
 5. An arrow according to claim 4, wherein said shaft is loosely received in said cavity in the body and has a tapered peripheral groove thereon between said forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing shoulders, and further comprising an annular resilient washer seated in said cavity in said body and having a tapered annular inner edge which is received in said groove to position the shaft radially of said cavity when in its retracted position.
 6. An arrow according to claim 1, wherein said shaft has forwardly and inwardly inclined notches immediately behind said rearwardly-facing shoulders; and said detent means comprises resilient members which are attached to said body in cantilever fashion and extend forward therefrom and terminate at their front ends in forwardly and inwardly inclined fingers which are received snugly in said notches in the shaft.
 7. An arrow according to claim 6, wherein said first catch means is spring-biased to a position for engagement automatically with said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft when the latter is retracted from its extended position, and said first catch means includes an operating button located behind the back end of said body and depressable either manually or by a bow string to actuate said first catch means to disengage from said forwardly-facing shoulder on the shaft.
 8. An arrow according to claim 7, wherein said shaft has a tapered groove peripheral thereon between said forwardly-facing and rearwardly-facing shoulders, and further comprising an annular resilient washer seated in said cavity on the body having a tapered annular inner edge which is received in said groove to position the shaft radially of said cavity when in its retracted position.
 9. A telescoping arrow comprising: a tubular body having a longitudinal cavity therein which is open at its forward end; a shaft loosely received lengthwise in said cavity and movable therealong between a retracted position in which most of the length of the shaft is contained within said cavity in the body and an extended position in which most of the length of the shaft projects forward beyond the body, said shaft having a tapered peripheral groove thereon near its back end; means for propelling said shaft forward along the body from its retracted position to its extended position; manually releasable catch means for retaining the shaft in its retracted position; and a resilient member seated in said cavity in said body and having a tapered inner edge portion received in said tapered groove on the shaft to position the shaft radially of said cavity when in its retracted position.
 10. A telescoping arrow comprising: a tubular body having a longitudinal cavity therein which is open at its forward end; a shaft loosely received lengthwise in said cavity and displaceable therealong between a retracted position in which most of the length of the shaft is contained within said cavity in the body and an extended position in which most of the length of the shaft projects forward beyond the body, said shaft having a forwardly-facing shoulder thereon near its back end and having forwardly and inwardly inclined notches located forward from said shoulder; means for propelling said shaft forward along the body from its retracted position to its extended position; means for releasably retaining the shaft in its retracted position; a pair of circumferentially-spaced catch members on said body toward its forward end which are spring-biased inward to engage said shaft at said shoulder to limit its forward movement and to restrain the shaft against displacement radially of said body when in its extended position; and a pair of circumferentially-spaced resilient detent members which are attached to said body in cantilever fasion and extend forward therefrom and terminate at their front ends in forwardly and inwardly inclined fingers which are received snugly in said notches in the shaft in the latter''s extended position to hold the shaft against retraction axially. 